R is for Regular

The Alphabet Challenge this week is R is for Regular - I could take a pic of a bowl of All-Bran or prunes but I thought this regular pattern is prettier! It is one of my collection of Caithness paperweights. It is produced using the 'millefiori' technique - literally 'many flowers' - which involves layering different colours of molten glass then rolling and pulling it out into a thin cane, producing a pattern down its length (like lettering in a stick of rock). This is repeated many times with different colours and combinations.The canes are then cut into 'slices' (beads) which are arranged in a pattern on a flat base with the cut ends uppermost, and covered with a dome of clear glass.I love watching glass items being made - there is a Caithness glass factory at Kings Lynn - always good for a visit when the weather is cold, lovely and warm in the workshop!